That made sense. Suddenly learning that she would have that sort of relationship with an Emanator like him was bound to stir up her emotions.
After all, finding out at their very first meeting that they would end up together was quite a shock.
Lingchen, however, was not particularly surprised.
Even though he had not done anything just now, he had already had his eye on Topaz in his previous life. Now that he was here, letting her slip away would have been the strange thing.
So he could easily guess what Fu Xuan had seen in her divination.
Meanwhile, after learning about her future, Topaz was now absolutely certain that Lingchen really did have a particular fondness for girls.
But from Fu Xuan's explanation, it seemed her future self had genuinely fallen for Lingchen, too.
In other words, theirs was not a transactional relationship. That left Topaz a little curious about the future.
After all, Lingchen's status spoke for itself. As a senior executive of the Corporation, Topaz understood better than most what being an Emanator meant.
Aventurine's eyes flickered slightly. Clearly, Topaz's future involved Lingchen.
Moreover, judging by her reaction, whatever happened in that future probably had not made her uncomfortable.
That was enough.
"So, have you learned about your future, Little Elena?"
This time, although Topaz was still unused to Lingchen's way of addressing her, she no longer felt the same embarrassed indignation as before.
Instead, she felt something she could not quite describe.
She wanted to be angry, but considering how Lingchen had called her by her name earlier, perhaps he had known her for a long time from his perspective. Maybe he was already used to calling her that in private.
As for embarrassment, Topaz only felt a little of it now. After all, this was their first meeting, and her impression of Lingchen was still limited to someone immensely powerful, a womanizer, but fairly pleasant-now with the added possibility that they might end up together.
"I did, Mr. Lingchen. I have to admit, it really surprised me."
Jade had told her about Lingchen's preferences from the outset. So although she had not prepared to offer herself, hearing that her future involved him had not surprised her much. At most, she had assumed his status and the benefits it brought would be enough to make her choose that.
But hearing that she would willingly want it was a little surprising. After all, her career had always come first.
"Just call me Lingchen."
"All right. O-okay, Lingchen."
Topaz took two deep breaths before finally saying his name.
Fu Xuan sighed beside them. She could hardly bear to watch any longer. She would be better off heading back and making Qingque do more work.
"Lingchen, I shall return to the Divination Commission first. Qingque finally has some motivation. I cannot let this hard-won opportunity slip away."
"All right, but let her balance work and rest. Don't work her too hard."
"Hmph, am I that sort of person? Wasn't it all for... never mind. Now that Qingque is on the right track, I no longer need to worry so much."
As she spoke, Fu Xuan was the first to soften.
Lingchen was right. Although personality was not entirely innate, it still had something to do with genetics. Combined with habits formed over the years, it was truly difficult to change.
She could not push Qingque too hard, either.
Still, after Qingque's tearful outburst today, her future as the Diviner was practically set in stone.
At that thought, Fu Xuan could not help smiling faintly.
"I shall be going, Lingchen. And to you two, I bid you farewell."
"Please, don't let us keep you."
Smiling, Aventurine gestured for her to go ahead.
Topaz also nodded with a broad smile.
Once Fu Xuan had left, Lingchen turned back to the pair.
"Please, sit."
Lingchen pointed in front of himself and casually conjured two exceedingly expensive-looking chairs.
There had been no chairs, so chairs appeared. Turning fiction into reality was one of the great authorities of [Elation] that Lingchen used most often.
"Lingchen, you've probably already guessed why we're here. We'd like to invite you to join the Interastral Peace Corporation."
Topaz spoke first.
After the earlier divination, she was the most suitable person to open the discussion.
As for Aventurine, although he was also curious about the divination's results, this clearly was not the time to ask.
"The Corporation can offer you a P46 position, with promotion to P47 once you have a little achievement under your belt. If you wish, the Corporation can establish a separate department for you.
"When the right opportunity comes, you might even rise to P48."
Aventurine's words surprised Lingchen slightly, but he soon understood.
The Corporation's people were not fools. An Emanator could hardly join at a low rank. Moreover, an [Elation] Emanator could arguably be even more troublesome than a well-prepared [Erudition] Emanator. Under those circumstances, creating another
department was no problem.
Besides, although the last part was something of a promise dangled before him, a seat among the seven board members was genuinely within reach.
"It seems the Interastral Peace Corporation thinks highly of me."
"Of course. Unless the Corporation's senior management is blind, they could all see the tremendous power you and that mysterious [Remembrance] Emanator displayed in moving the Imaginary Wall."
The Corporation had people on the Luofu. Although the leadership had restricted information, that merely kept outsiders from knowing how many people had acted. Everything else would get out.
"So you also came with orders to investigate the Imaginary Wall's whereabouts."
Chapter 83: The outcome of the Corporation's recruitment. "That's right."
"I didn't expect you to admit it so readily, Kakavasha."
Lingchen looked at the utterly composed Aventurine with slight surprise.
Aventurine smiled, showing no particular reaction to the way Lingchen addressed him.
"I enjoy gambling on luck, but before an Emanator-especially an [Elation] Emanator-sincerity is the best thing to offer.
"Still, we're in no hurry about the Imaginary Wall. What do you think of the Corporation's proposal?" Neither of them said anything about the Corporation providing him with a vast selection of girls from different species.
Between Yukong's presence when they arrived, Lingchen's way of addressing Fu Xuan, and the scenes Fu Xuan had just divined, they understood that the people who interested him were probably far from ordinary.
Bringing up such offers would only offend him.
"It's certainly a good proposal, and I can feel the Corporation's sincerity. Still, although we may cooperate in the future, I'll pass on joining."
The Interastral Peace Corporation was indeed sincere. That rank was beyond what Topaz and Aventurine could offer on their own, meaning the decision had at least come from the board. After all, the other two known Emanators held positions at that level.
But ultimately, taking a position meant shouldering its responsibilities.
Compared with joining the Corporation, Lingchen preferred roaming around with nothing to do.
Just watching Fu Xuan and Qingque work overtime every day gave him a headache.
Still, although the Xianzhou, the Corporation, and other major factions all possessed top-level fighting power, the Corporation was unquestionably the leading player economically. As the largest economic entity in the universe, its reach extended into every aspect of life.
Another economic entity could emerge in the universe, but certainly not in the short term. Nor did Lingchen currently harbor any ambition to control the universal economy.
Besides, there was currently no conflict of interest between him and the Corporation. On the contrary, it wanted to befriend him.
However unsavory the Corporation's methods were, there was no denying that, alongside the ugliness, it had brought certain conveniences.
For example, the widespread use of Credits made it possible to live and shop comfortably across different civilizations.
So unless his interests were involved, he would not insist on opposing the Corporation for the sake of some civilization.
He was no savior or bleeding heart.
Having crossed into this world, the fact that he did not treat most of its inhabitants as actual NPCs already showed his mercy.
Mutual benefit was the name of the game, after all. Provided, of course, that the Corporation did not provoke him-or that he did not take an "interest" in some of its people.
"If you absolutely need a reason, tell the Corporation I can't stand that fellow called Oswald Schneider. If they want me to join, he has to leave."
"Of course, I could also step in and make him the centerpiece of some grand entertainment. Turn him into a brain-boosting banana for the monkeys on Mount Emei to eat, for example, and see whether they start developing markets too. Or turn him into a biological battery that produces unlimited energy whenever someone curses him. Or broadcast him mating with a dog across the universe."
Lingchen rubbed his chin. Those sounded rather workable. After all, someone like that was only good for that sort of entertainment.
"Surely... you're joking."
Cold sweat broke out on Topaz as she listened.
As expected of an [Elation] Emanator. Even Zhang Zhang would tremble at methods like those.
Fortunately, she had not let Zhang Zhang out.
She was rather helpless, actually. Oswaldo's methods were indeed disgraceful. Even putting aside her colleague Aventurine, the head of the Strategic Investment Department—her superior—was currently at odds with him. She had no fondness for the head of the Market Development Department, either. If someone could get rid of him, she would wholeheartedly support it.
Yet undeniably, behind his disgusting methods lay countless tangible profits-profits large enough for him to contend for a seat on the board.
Under those circumstances, the Corporation could not possibly abandon that department head in favor of an [Elation] Emanator who "might consider joining the Corporation just another amusement."
Aventurine's eyes, however, brightened. He wanted to kill that man every waking moment, but he lacked the ability. He did not even have an opportunity to approach him.
Moreover, Diamond could not act on his behalf right now.
"It seems Kakavasha isn't happy with that man either. Understandable. The true mastermind behind the Avegians' destruction... if not for certain reasons, you probably would have taken the same path as that Bubble Shark fellow."
Lingchen noticed Aventurine's gaze.
"Bubble Shark? Do you mean Boothill, the man on the Corporation's wanted list?" Topaz paused, then realization dawned.
"Exactly. And please call me Lingchen, Little Elena, or I'll start calling you baby."
Lingchen winked at Topaz.
"I understand, Lingchen."
Topaz blushed and hastily replied.
She had absolutely no doubts about Lingchen's shamelessness.
"You're right. I would gladly devour his flesh and drink his blood. I want to kill him with my own hands, but this is reality. I'm trying to advance another step because, right now, I have no opportunity, and no one will give me one. All I can do is watch him swagger around."
Aventurine's gaze grew considerably colder, and his hands quietly clenched.
Before Lingchen, he neither pretended indifference nor hid his true thoughts.
Concealing them before an [Elation] Emanator would be unwise. Lingchen might even use them to amuse himself at his expense. Better to show his genuine feelings.
... He could vent a little, demonstrate his sincerity, and give Lingchen less material for amusement.
"Every move I make reminds me of the past all over again.
"But I'm no Emanator, after all. I don't have the power to dispose of Oswaldo easily."
Otherwise, what would it matter if he became wanted?
His mother, his sister, his people-all had vanished in that incident.
Beside him, Topaz wore a complicated expression. She knew Aventurine's background.
So she simply acted as though she had not heard what he had just said.
"Relax, Kakavasha. Who can say what the future holds?"
Lingchen watched Aventurine's expression. Although he knew there was an element of performance to it, the emotions were genuine. With the great authority of [Elation] and those seven masks, fused into one, that represented emotions and powers, he sensed the man's sorrow, anger, and helplessness-complex and "wonderful" emotions.
He conjured two cups of milk tea and pushed them toward the pair.
"This is the milk tea Xuanbao often drinks. I made it myself. You won't find this flavor or recipe anywhere else. Try it."
"Thank you."
As the milk tea touched their tongues, their moods involuntarily improved considerably.
Aventurine's expression visibly brightened, too.
Not only that, even the exhaustion from several days of running around seemed to disappear.
Topaz looked at the milk tea in her hands with some surprise.
"This milk tea..."
Chapter 84: As expected of an [Elation] Emanator
"Tastes good, doesn't it?" "Yes, it's delicious."
Had Lingchen not made it, she would genuinely have wanted to buy the recipe. "Mr. Lingchen, what did you mean earlier?" "Nothing much. I neither like nor dislike the Corporation. We haven't..."